Retail Store Manager - Totton, Southampton

Healthy Pet Store is a dynamic pet food and accessories retailer with a real difference. Being a community-focused employer with a strong high street presence, colleagues are proud of their exemplary skills in helping customers’ dogs, cats, and other meat-eating pets lead fulfilled lives.

Managing the successful running of the Totton store, maximising its turnover, keeping control of costs, and developing a high-performing and engaged team alongside an Assistant Store Manager and Store Supervisor is key.  As a lead manager, you’ll be responsible for the recruitment, retention, and management of your team. You’ll be required to assimilate a large amount of knowledge of categories and broad training concepts as well as bring classic retail management skills to the business. You’ll understand the importance of managing change, especially in a fast-growing business and you will champion programmes and updates as they arrive.

You’ll also provide and inspire service excellence in the Healthy Pet Store way. The store maintains very high standards and you’ll have a keen eye for detail as well as the skill of overseeing the shop floor to ensure efficiency. You must be able to plan and prioritise, and delegate to your team to ensure tasks are completed well and on time but will be happy ‘mucking in’ when needed. In this respect, you’ll need to get up to speed with systems and processes whilst being able to bring your own experience to the function.  Due to the stores’ pick/pack model, you’ll also have a responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the home delivery and click-and-collect service and will provide support to the home delivery driver if necessary. You’ll be flexible and able to work over seven days a week including weekends and evenings in moderation.

Additional responsibilities

• Reporting to the Operations Manager, report on targets and departmental KPIs
• Ensure you and your team are up to date with training and the knowledge needed to make Healthy Pet Store the unique destination
• Hold daily huddles with your team 
• Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities in your department
• Maintain statistical records
• Focus on benefit-based selling 
• Communicate any stock issues or requests to Head Office
• Handle complaints and returns professionally 
• Implement and communicate promotions and price changes from Head Office
• Whilst not directly responsible for your store replenishers, you will support and guide them 
• Ensure compliance and safety policies are adhered to

Skills and experience

• Strong leadership qualities
• A proven track record in-store performance in a fast-paced retail environment
• Understand how to coach and develop your team and how to conduct well run regular, two-way reviews as a line manager
• Proven and demonstrable experience in scheduling, absence and holiday management, and timesheet administration, and be able to issue a fair and rolling rota in the required timeframe
• Handle the challenges of day-to-day retail and balance your shop floor and desk time duties with efficiency 
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Be commercially aware
• Be confident, positive, and helpful, bringing ideas of your own to the business
• Retail qualifications are not required
• Experience in the retail of consumer goods or the pet food & accessory industry is preferable 
• Ideally, you’ll have previous experience being the primary caregiver of a cat, dog, or other meat-eating pet to be able to empathise with customers and understand concepts and categories
• A clean driving licence would be beneficial

Benefits

What we can offer:

• Competitive salary
• Day off for pet adoption/arrival and bereavement
• 25% in-store discount for you and your household pets from day one
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme for eligible colleagues
• Cutting-edge concept, category, and product training well as all statutory workplace training, and management and leadership skills training
• Opportunity to access paid-for study for industry-recognized nutrition courses and retail or warehouse qualifications
• Love2Shop and Kudos recognition and rewards
• Pirkx subscription gives colleagues access to shopping savings, private GP and counselor access, and wellness support, for you and your family
• Birthday and work anniversary gifts
• Give As You Earn tax efficient charity giving
• Refer a friend's payment
• Opportunity for progression if desired